Rochester has quite the history in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, and a story that is known all over the country and the world.
Thursday night, RNY FC set about writing a new chapter in the tournament, and pick up its first win in its first home contest since the team was relaunched.
Rochester took on Lansdowne Yonkers FC in the second round of the famed cup. With history on its side, RNY FC won its first game since its relaunch, picking up a 1-0 victory over Lansdowne Yonkers FC in the second round of the 2022 U.S. Open Cup.
Gilbran Rayo scored in the fifth minute of first half stoppage time to give RNY FC the lead going into halftime, and Rochester made the lead stand up over the final 45 minutes. The win moves RNY FC into the third round, which is set to be played in the midweek of April 19-21.
The draw for the third round will be tomorrow at 12 p.m. EDT, which you can watch on the U.S. Open Cup Twitter and/or YouTube accounts.
RNY FC put on the early pressure in the first 10 minutes, as the hosts created multiple chances. Midfielder Pedro Dolabella saw his free kick from 20 yards tipped just over the bar, while a chance from Gabriel Costa off a corner was tipped just wide by Lansdowne keeper Kabo Danso.
Rochester was forced into a first half substitution, as Gabriel Costa came off in the 33rd minute, and was replaced by Dante Brigida.
Lansdowne had a free kick tipped over the bar for its only opportunity of the first half, and while RNY FC had a couple more chances in the final 10 minutes, but it took until the final kick of the half to take the lead.
Rayo laid off a ball in the middle of the pitch to Dolabella, who played the winger through on goal. Rayo coolly slotted home under pressure to give the hosts a 1-0 lead heading into the intermission.
The second half started with a quick chance for the visitors, which could have seen Yohance Alexander receive his second yellow for a foul on RNY FC keeper Phillip Ejimadu. The next 10 minutes saw the hosts sit and play on the counter, with multiple chances to score their second goal and put the contest out of reach. But Danso kept his team in the game with a few outstanding saves, and the teams went into the final 20 minutes with the outcome still in the balance.
Rochester could never find the second goal that would have killed off the contest, but the defense was up to the challenge all night, and kept its first clean sheet of the campaign. There was one nervous moment in the final minutes of stoppage time, which saw a chance flash just wide of Ejimadu’s post. But bar that, it was a very comfortable night for the hosts, who can now start to dream of another long run in the tournament.
The win comes ahead of another big away contest in the new MLS NEXT PRO League this weekend. RNY FC will once again travel to face a foe for the third weekend in a row. It will face Chicago FC II at SeatGeek Stadium on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. EDT (8:30 p.m. in England and the U.K.) Rochester will look to take some of the momentum from Thursday afternoon into that contest, and pick up its first win in the league after a 2-0 loss to STL CITY II on opening night and a 3-1 defeat to New England Revs II last Sunday.
